Dedicated to claudia-143 and dheenmah. Seriously you both made me cry and smile for real. Thank you!

*There's a pretty long and COMPULSORY author's note at the end of this chap. Y'all should endeavour to read it.

Song of the chapter: Way too big - Burna boy.

♤

Every guy thinks that every girls' dream is to find the perfect guy. But well, every girls' dream is to eat without getting fat..

️♤

~Not edited!~

|ARAMIDE|

"I'm sorry Aramide. I swear I never meant to do what I did. I'm being blackmailed and I felt so bad ever since the incidence."

Those words from the least person I expected.

Jade.

The girl who pushed me into the swimming pool, with Della by her side while they laughed wickedly and left me to drown.

Trance-mares.

Lucid dreams.

Thunderstorms.

Yes she was the one who dragged me into the random class on Thursday. After she spilled those words or rather confessions to me, I felt trapped, so awed. I couldn't think straight again. Why would another person blackmail another just to teach me a lesson by drowning me? I almost died! And to worsen it all, she confessed to me that it was a planned work by Lizzy and someone I'm yet to know that hates my gut. So much.

That bitch.

Fortunately for me, Derek happened to be walking with the aim to look for a free class that day. Since Jade's back was to the outside, he discretely understood the sign I gave him with my eyes, and he hid beside the front entryway holding out his phone to record the evidence.

First time I felt smart in my life. Or so I thought.

"Aramide, are you giving birth in that closet? Yunno, I'm not ready to be a grandaunt yet oo." I groan and facepalm. Yes I totally forgot that my aunty is sitting majestically on my bed, eating an ordered food from KFC, waiting for me to change my clothes for the sixth time. Today started out as an eventless Saturday until she showed up into my room and started rambling about how we need a girls weekend, sweet body treatment and also to prepare for the Bolanle family's gathering since my supposed grandparents are in the country.

"Ma, I'm coming." I mumble back as I struggle to buckle the skinny ripped jeans she threw at me to wear. Anytime I come out from the closet, she would either say I'm dressing too casual, or I'm looking like the old woman that lived next door back in her home town in Colorado.

Yes, I know. My uncle's wife is a case study and that's why I actually like her.

I finally secure my neon green sandals on my feet and arrange my kinky virgin hair.

I swear, I'm not going to change my clothes again.

I've had enough.

"Ha, finally!" She snickers while she uncrosses her foot from my bedside stool muting the television in the process. I subtly roll my eyes and stare down at my outfit.

"Onome don't tell me to change my clothes again na. I'm not going to a strippers club."

She assesses my clothes as she smirks. "Well this is much better. Hurry up and collect your waist bag or whatever. I'm waiting for you in the car." She picks up her limited edition forever 21 tote bag and hums to a familiar tune while walking out of my room.

I sigh in relief and mumble an 'ok Ara, you've got this' as I quickly walk over my mirror stand and put my phone into my neon waist bag and hang it on my waist. Coming out from my room after locking it, I meet Cheryl who eyes me and hisses like there's no tomorrow.

This mumu cousin of mine.

"Thank God you're getting out of this house. I don't want my boyfriend to see your useless face here."

Really?

Remind me how Senior Christopher ended up with a girlfriend like my cousin.

Agbaya oshe.

I return a hiss of my own and ram my body against her shoulder making it seem like a mistake.

"Omg! I didn't know a living creation of God was standing here! My bad Cheryl. " Yes, I've gotten much bolder around Cheryl. She mutters fuck you under her breath while I smile triumphantly, striding to the garage situated at the front of the mansion.

"Glad I'm getting your lazy butt out of your comfort zone." Onome comments as she scrolls through her Instagram feed. I am sure I've groaned for the umpteenth time today. God knows I did not want to come out today. Like I prefer the comfort of my room and hate socialising with others. It sometimes creeps me out on how people mingle with others so easily.

Well, not until my aunty gave me the speech on how I must leave the house if I want a fine boy to see me. Why does this woman talk carelessly? Like which kind of African mother does that? Oh I remember. She grew up in America not in Naija.

"Are you referring to me?" I ask with a feigned ignorance. She raises her head slowly from her screen and gives me a look that says 'No. It is my fore fathers I'm referring to'. I chuckle at her facial expression. She can really be a comedian without trying.

"I'm really happy you decided to come out of your shell Aramide. It will be so amazing to see you become more alive and outgoing." She says with a dropdead serious tone and a stern face. I smile sadly and recall how she has been making bunch and bunches of plans for me. I just hope in her plans she didn't include stripers club for me.

Hehe, my brother and uncle Tee will just kukuma kill me. I chew my lips as I think hard.

"What are you afraid of, darling?" She requests as she put her hand on my right shoulder. I take a deep breath remembering flashes of terrible things that I had to face, before answering.

"I'm afraid my past is coming into reality again. I'm afriad I won't be able to just say how I feel freely without being nervous or shy. I'm afraid I can't ever be social with others like normal people. I'm afraid I'll never live a normal life. I'm afraid I will never be loved genuinely. I lack confidence too much and it kills me inside. My life literary sucks."

Everything. I said it in a heartbeat.

Well, not everything though.

"Oh dear," Onome coos as she reaches over to my side in the car, and engulfs me in a side hug. "I promise everything happening now is just a phrase of your life. But, don't worry it will pass soon and everything. I mean every single fucking thing will become good again okay?" Bobbing my head and still chewing my lips I reply.

"Okay Onome. Thank you, I really needed that." I say genuinely as I smile. She mirrors my smile as the chauffeur speaks up.

"Madam sorry to disturb una girly-girly moment, but we don land for our domot oo." He says with a finnesed broken English.

Already?

Whoa that was quick.

"Shut up Zion!" My aunty retorts with a slight scowl. To be honest, Zion is a good person. I once asked him why he is a chauffeur instead of studying in University or College judging he is in his early 20's. He replied that he needed money to further his education since his father passed away and he was left to hustle for his poor mother and three younger siblings.

Situation of life.

We came down from the car after Zion parks at the vast parking lot. "Omg this place is wonderful!" I blurt my mind out as my eyes gazes over the building and it's surrounding. The name above is 'Glitz and Glamourz.' Do places like this still exist? Yes I know it exists, but in real life? Gosh I feel out of place so much. Tall and massive building, neat surrounding, vast and wide area, commercials of popular brands and celebrities are plastered everywhere. Don't get me started on the glass and marble walls combination, then the multi-million exterior and interior design.

"I know right?" She replies softly as she sashays to the carpetgrass rugged entrance while I follow her behind. The first thing that welcomes us is the faint scent of pure lavender and rose. The air-conditioner makes the place feel chilly and gives it a lovely atmosphere of wanting. "Haven't you heard of Glitz and Glamourz magazine?" She adds as I raise my head thoughtfully at that.

The name sounds familiar though.

So familiar.

"I think I've heard of it somehow. So this is the place? Like the company behind it?" I ask with bubbling excitement.

"Hmm." She replies as we enter the sparkles enclosed elevator, leading us to the mainfloor for beauty section. I smile internally and dance all manner and types of dance in my head. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine being in a big and expensive place like this. Wonders really happen a lot. My phone beeps in my waist bag indicating I have a text message.

...

Bestest💖:

Hey, you owe us good luck wishes and kisses as we do this interview babe😉

I hope when we are done, I'll be able to call you. And once again I know you're going to make your hair and all but are you still up for the party at Offshore today?

We really miss you.

-J.

...

I roll my eyes and sigh softly. I really miss my friends. The Triple-J are having a live interview today by noon at Silverbird. I think that is what Jide told me yesterday when we did a group video call. I quickly text Jerry back as my aunty gives me a weird look.

I hope she did not see the message?

Before she will say, I have a secret boyfriend now. Never trust mothers.

...

Me:

Yayyy! I'm happy for you guys tho. Good luck and plenty kisses😘😘 and I miss y'all too!

...

"Why are you looking at your phone like that?" She asks with a blank expression as we alight the elevator.

"Like how?"

She rolls her eyes. "Like your boo don die or pesin dey miss."

Whoa, pidgin English doesn't really fit some people in this Nigeria.

I laugh hard at the way she spoke her broken English. It was pretty funny considering she has an American accent. She grew up in Colorado and schooled in Dubai for her tertiary education, where she met my uncle before they hit it off from there.

"Nothing happened. Everything is okay." She eyes me in a way of disbelief and mumbles something along the lines of, there is God oo. Before turning her attention to the receptionist about our appointment of hair, pedicure and manicure services.

~One and a half hour later~

"Wow parking gel really suits you Aramide." My aunty comments with utter disbelief as the male hair-dresser swirls me round. I smile warily as I flip the golden weavon over my back witch reachs a inch above my butt. Gosh the hair. It felt so amazing as the silks of my virgin hair glided beautifully. The edges. The way they curled at the side hairline of my forehead, made me look like an angel.

But....This doesn't feel right.

This isn't me.

I can't be this angelic and sexy.

I force a smile and use my eyes to thank the male Hairdresser who was already assessing me through the mirror. I don't understand why a hairdresser would cover his face with facemask. But he did. I knew it was a guy, and I felt he is trying to hide from someone or something. My gaze fell on his through the mirror and surprisingly, he did not flinch or look back. Rather, he quirked his brows and smiled lazily. My whole body jerks into a crazy kind of feeling and I quickly averted my gaze from his because of the uneasiness I'm feeling. He didn't speak since he started my hair, neither has he done anything out of the ordinary.

So why do I feel something is cooking up with him?

I look back at my aunty who is now reading the Glitz and Glamourz magazine while the pedicurist works on her feet. I check the time on my phone. 11:56am. I think I am forgetting something. Jerry....oh no!

The interview!

The interview would soon start! I turn to ask the hairdresser to change the station on the large screen for me, but...he's gone. Just like that?

Weird.

I turn my direction to the cleaner who is currently moping the crimson tiles.

"Ma, can you please change the station to Silverbird? I need to watch my friends interview." Afraid that I may get turned down, I gulp visibly, twirling my fingers around. Fortunately for me, She smiles politely.

"Sure I will." She replies as she changes the station automatically. Soon enough the interview started as most of the ladies present at the beauty section, started giggling as they saw the Triple-J on air. I roll my eyes at their childish behaviour especially the two girls at my side who snorts and look at me with disgust.

"Can you imagine she told the filthy cleaner to change the channel so that she can see 'her friends'." The first one mocks me.

Uhh, are this girls dumb? Don't they know I can hear them clearly?

And what right do they have to call someone filthy? Are they God?

If I am the sassy type, I would have given them a good comeback but unfortunately, I'm just a timid girl who has social awkwardness. The best I can do is insult them in my mind, and roll my eyes.

"She's just another obsessed fan of them. Poor little girl." She replies her Minnie-mouse of a friend as they high-fived. It is so unfortunate they don't have sense I sigh as I return my gaze back to the TV.

"Hello Africa." Jerry beaming face booms into the TV's view.

"I'm Jide." Stupid Jide says with a smirk as he winks. I roll my eyes while the girls swoons over him.

Remind me again if I'm the obsessed one or the two idiotic girls by my side.

This Jide ehh, bayi sense ni.

"I'm Jerry." Jerry said with a genuine and excited smile.

"And I'm Jamal." He says with his normal face that had a little forced smile in it. But as usual, the girls by my side thought it is cute.

Olodo rapata.

"And we are the Triple-J." They reply with a perfect rythm and synchronisation as if they've practised it all thier lives. I pick up a random fashion magazine, while sipping my water as I watch the interview at intervals.

"So we would be releasing our much awaited album by June, next year." Jamal says with a proud smile.

"Oh I can't wait for its release." The female interviewer replies gleefully.

"And we are dedicating it to our families and to the queens in our life." Jide replies with a proud smile.

Queens ke?

"Who are these queens you speak highly of?" The lady asks with an amused voice and a glint of sultry voice.

Omo interviewer, seems like you don't like your life. You will soon loose your job.

"That, dear miss interviewer, is a mystery for the world to find out." I chock on my water and burst into little fits of laughter. Ask me why I'm laughing? I honestly do not know. Maybe it is because I know the guys on a personal level, or maybe because I understand the hidden message behind his words. My aunty stops her gisting with the lady beside her and gives me a curious look as if she just figured out something. Within minutes, she snaps her fingers in the air, momentarily disrupting all movements.

This is so embarrassing!

"So it was him you were chatting with on the elevator." She says, more like concludes as she is giving me a funny look. The two girls by side look lost as she said that.

Wait...this can be the time for a perfect comeback now that everyone attention is on us.

I smirk back as I reply the lost looking girls. "You guys should really keep your gossip level on a low. Stop acting stupid and all puffed up cause your rich. Have you seen them before? Are you thier friends? Do they even know you exist? Oh sorry, my bad. When we spoke they didn't tell me they knew riffraffs like you. If you need thier autographs, I can just ask them for you. Peradventure they can pity your helpless obsessed life and support your ministry of stupidity. So if you'll can excuse me, I need to ease myself."

I finish my ranting as push the swirling chair out, and stood up while swaying my hips to an unknown destination. Immediately I got out of everyone's reach, I laugh and tear up as I remembered the look on their faces.

Never in my life did I imagine I would ever insult people to their faces.

They didn't believe I was close to the Triple-J and then, they did not think I would give them a comeback. Heck, I didn't know I would go all sassy on them. Okay for real I really need to use the restroom. Why didn't I ask for direction in this massive building in the first place?

Cause you were busy giving those girls a good show. My brain mocks. Uggh! Not now my dear sixth sense!

It was really worth it. Since I am so jobless, I started ogling at the wonderful and different photoshoots of popular models hung on the glass wall before me.

Jesus! Wait!

I actually paused for real as I graze the picture of a particular one. A guy and a girl. They had the picture-perfect couple look. My attention shifts to the girl first of all. Green eyes. How on earth is it possible for a Nigerian to have green eyes? are they real? Then her skin! Jeez such a flawless beauty. And immediately my eyes landed on the guy, my heart skipped. Honey eyes. As sharp as the lightest shade of brown. His face, omg! Is this how all models are? Specific colours of eyes and wonderful body form? Reading the writing below, I saw; Shade Onam and Tobias Pirah. Brand ambassadors of the Glitz and Glamour teens vogue magazine.

Whoa!!! So this is the popular Shade Onam????

And now, who's this Tobias that sounds so familiar?

God, I think my heard is going to burst in seconds.

"You seem lost little one." I hear a bored voice say behind me. I froze before I turn swiftly to look at the guy. I sucked in a breath as I stared or rather ogled.

No freaking way!

The Tobias Pirah himself!

The first thing I notice about him is his sharp brown eyes that shone as honey. Honey eyes that I feel like drowning myself in.

So he is real after all.

"I'm glad you came to seek me again, Aramide." He says with a smooth voice. I gasp and hit the glass wall behind me. He knows my name and what does he mean by again?? I stare at him with wide eyes and a racing heart. As if he understood my dilemma, he steps closer as his manly cologne hits my nose.

"Wondering who I am? Well, I am the male hairdresser."

Just like that, I woke up and died ten thousand times in my head.

I'm certainly dreaming.

~A/N~

Honestly I didn't see this chapter coming😂✌️

Shade Onam is from Those little things by lovetori_xo While Tobias Pirah is a character of mine. And tbh, he is a very important and sensitive character for me. I didn't introduce him earlier cus his character is special, and he's gon be a major character from now on.

Any guess on who he is and what his role is going to be on? Think think think!

And yes, I hope I was able to compliment you all with this new update?

I couldn't explain the things in my previous chapter because of hurry and tiredness. So here is the explanation;

Shattered heartstrings is in collaboration with other books. I would mention some things that wouldn't be so complete at times because the continuation is in the other author's book. This does not mean that you can't read my book without reading thiers, but for the sake of understanding them better, you have to read thiers and trust me they are sooo AMAZING!

Nosa which is Jamal's cousin is in B.R.O.K.E.N by claudia-143

Kesiena and Matthew's lookalike are from 14 days by vilalove09

Shade Onam and Yure are from Those Little Things by lovetori_xo

More characters are still gonna be used from their books in mine though.

Those are the collaborations for now. As the book goes on, you will get to see other collabos with dheenmah Qhupid_247 and Rihanna_Adedeji

😂😂 Sorry for the long talk, but it is what it is.

I had to quickly update this cause I have camp tomorrow. Yes camp. I think its gon be a week camp but I pray I'll have access to my gadgets frequently 😩

Till next time guys, and if you really, really, really loved this chapter, its never too late to click on the star button, and hit the comment box with comments.

-Jasmine ©️